​​​​​​​​​​BRYAN - A university where people are known to greet each other with “Howdy” aims to soon become known for a 21st century style of communication—between driverless cars.

Texas A&M University is building a $150 million research campus at the former Bryan Air Base, about ten miles west of the main campus in College Station. The facility also is known as the Riverside Campus.

Construction has already begun on the facility at the renovated Riverside Campus.

When it opens, it will become known as the RELLIS Campus​—which stands for the "Aggie core values" of respect, excellence, leadership, loyalty, integrity and selfless service.

The renovated campus will emphasize research on driverless cars, vehicle-to-vehicle communications, crash avoidance and other technological improvements to automobiles.

The research is expected to include the use of the university’s resources in partnerships with private-sector companies.

A conference was hosted by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, which is known nationwide for its research into traffic fatalities, congestion and high-tech safety improvements.

The facility also will focus on many forms of cutting edge research including robotics, power grids and water systems.

A secured area will be set aside for companies that wish to keep their ideas quiet before they unveil them to the world.

The university also announced plans to build a $38 million education center that will offer two-year and four-year degrees to students not admitted to A&M’s main campus​ through affiliations with other universities in the A&M system.